Route guidance apparatus and method

Abstract

A database stores map data including road network data and landmark data. A route search unit searches for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in said database. A road pattern analysis unit analyzes a road pattern of the route by referring to the road network data, and obtains road pattern data as the analysis result. A route guidance information generation unit generates route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data along the route. A presentation unit presents the route guidance information.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A pedestrian route guidance apparatus, comprising: 
       a database configured to store map data including road network data and landmark data;  
       a route search unit configured to search for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in said database, and to divide the route into a departure area, a destination area, and an intermediate area, wherein the departure area is a route area from the departure point to a first target point, the destination area is a route area from a last target point to the destination point, and the intermediate area is a junction area excluding the departure area and the destination area from the route;  
       a road pattern analysis unit configured to set a mask having a size several times a road width of advance direction of the junction area, to extract the road network data corresponding to the mask from said database as a route network extraction area, to analyze a road pattern of the route by referring to the road network data, and to obtain road pattern data as the analysis result;  
       a route guidance information generation unit configured to generate route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data along the route; and  
       a presentation unit configured to present the route guidance information by speech.  
     
     
       2. A pedestrian route guidance method, comprising: 
       storing map data including road network data and landmark data in a database;  
       searching for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in said database;  
       dividing the route into a departure area, a destination area, and an intermediate area, wherein the departure area is a route area from the departure point to a first target point, the destination area is a route area from a last target point to the destination point, and the intermediate area is a junction area excluding the departure area and the destination area from the route;  
       setting a mask having a size several times a road width of advance direction of the junction area;  
       extracting the road network data corresponding to the mask from said database as a route network extraction area;  
       analyzing a road pattern of the route by referring to the road network data;  
       obtaining road pattern data as the analysis result;  
       generating route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data along the route; and  
       presenting the route guidance information by speech.  
     
     
       3. A computer program product, comprising: 
       a computer-readable program code embodied in said product for causing a computer to execute pedestrian route guidance, said computer-readable program code having:  
       a first program code to store map data including road network data and landmark data in a database;  
       a second program code to search for a route from a departure point to a destination point from the road network data stored in said database;  
       a third program code to divide the route into a departure area, a destination area, and an intermediate area, wherein the departure area is a route area from the departure point to a first target point, the destination area is a route area from a last target point to the destination point, and the intermediate area is a junction area excluding the departure area and the destination area from the route;  
       a fourth program code to set a mask having a size several times a road width of advance direction of the junction area;  
       a fifth program code to extract the road network data corresponding to the mask from said database as a route network extraction area;  
       a sixth program code to analyze a road pattern of the route by referring to the road network data;  
       a seventh program code to obtain road pattern data as the analysis result;  
       an eighth program code to generate route guidance information of the route using the road pattern data and the landmark data along the route; and  
       a ninth program code to present the route guidance information by speech.